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HRC Calls on Organizations to Avoid Hotels Owned by Anti-LGBT Sultan of Brunei

5/2/14

WASHINGTON -- Following Brunei’s decision this week to advance a series of penal code reforms that will include stoning as a possible punishment for relations between its LGBT citizens, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) sent letters today to the leadership of several organizations that currently plan to host events at American hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei.

Presently, the Aviva Family and Children’s Services, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, Cedars-Sinai Medical Hospital’s Helping Hand of Los Angeles, Colleagues Helpers in Philanthropic Services, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, the Partners in Care Foundation, and Teen Line in collaboration with Sony Pictures all have events scheduled at the Beverly Hills Hotel over the next month.

Many charities and foundations that raise money and awareness for a variety of important causes use these hotels for their events, and while HRC supports many of those efforts, we feel strongly that they should find new locations.

Below is an excerpt from the letter HRC President Chad Griffin sent to organizations hosting events at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the full text is available here:

“There are a number of hotels and venues in the Los Angeles area that aren’t owned by foreign leaders and governments that allow for the execution of its LGBT citizens. We’re encouraging members of the LGBT community and our allies to consider those options instead of the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hotel Bel-Air––which are part of the Sultan’s Dorchester Collection. In addition, we’re calling on organizations that have upcoming events scheduled at these hotels to move them to other locations.

“I have attended various events at both hotels over the past several years. But given the extreme nature of these developments, I feel strongly that we in the LGBT community and our allies should take our business elsewhere.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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